It is said that the trade in agricultural products is the movement of water and energy. Plants are grown where there is water, and ultimately, they are composed of energy (calories) derived from the sun. The sun bombards the earth with 173,000 terawatts of power on a continuous basis. Humans use 15 terrawatts of energy from all sources on a continuous basis. In other words, capturing less than 0.009 percent of the supply of solar energy would satisfy all human energy needs. The efficiency challenge is the energy return on energy invested (EROI) calculation. While solar panels receive much of the kudos for capturing the sun’s energy for human use, agriculture is the largest and more efficient converter of solar energy. The losse...
Weighing in on strategic realignment
WPI’s team was retained by the governing board of a U.S. industry organization to review a decision, reached by vote, to invest significant assets into the development and management of an export trading company. WPI’s team conducted a formal review of this decision and concluded that the current level of market saturation would limit the benefits of the investment. Based on WPI’s analysis and recommended actions, the board subsequently reversed its decision and undertook a strategic planning effort to identify more impactful investments. On behalf of numerous clients, WPI has not only assisted in identifying strategic paths but also advised their implementation.
What You Need to Know Today: Russia rejected calls for a ceasefire in the Black Sea, including a proposal to halt attacks on civilian shipping that could help restore grain flows from Ukrainian ports. Tyson Foods announced plans to permanently close its Joslin, Illinois, beef processing facili...
The big news in the cattle markets yesterday was Tyson Foods’ move to close two more beef plants. One of them, the Joslin, Illinois, plant was shuttered immediately after the announcement. The other, in Eagle Mountain, Utah, is a case-ready plant that does not slaughter cattle. Tyson also...
The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) on Wednesday. In July, the CPI rose 0.1 percent, seasonally adjusted, and rose 3.4 percent over the last 12 months, not seasonally adjusted. The index for all items less food and energy, or the “core” infla...